A severe call into grace

We have been studying the severity of Jesus’ call to his disciples. The grammatical use of the “imperative mood” in the Greek text of “Follow me” (and many of his other teachings) indicates demands, not cordial “invitations.” How can we—or should we—soften the edge of Jesus’ harshness when our modern culture values personal rights, autonomy, and ego over being “told what to do,” even by God?  

Some perspective helps. Let’s apply it to accounts of Jesus’ severity (Luke 9:57-62).

To the man who volunteered: “I will follow you wherever you go,” Jesus described the daily lives of foxes and birds, adding that “the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” certainly a rebuff to this man’s idealistic notions of discipleship.  He is like the little boy who promised his parents that, if they got him a puppy, he would take care of it every day. They knew that he was not ready for such responsibilities.  Likewise, this would-be disciple would have soured out soon and given up. Jesus actually acted in grace to emphasize the consequences of discipleship.

Next was a man so overwhelmed with personal grief that he told Jesus: “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Rather than lowering his standards, Jesus replied: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” While some counselors would likely recommend years of grieving before making such a major life decision, Jesus maintained his “Follow me now” position.  As long as our own needs, legitimate as they are, come before following Jesus, we are not ready. It was grace that allowed him to wait.

Another man, encumbered by family relationships, told Jesus: “I will follow you, Lord, but first, let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” No, he isn’t ready either as seen in Jesus’ graciously severe response: “No one who puts his hand to the plow, and looks back,  is fit for service in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62).  Ambivalence doesn’t serve anyone well, especially God.

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D.Min., LPC-S, is a pastoral psychotherapist in Waynesboro. Contact him at 540-256-1147, at RussWaldrop.com, or visit him at RussWaldropCounseling.net.

(Continued next week)